Hello All,

This is my first post as have recently been diagnosed with AA.

My hair started to fall out about two months ago. They started as two quarter size bald spots on either side of my natural part towards the middle of my head. But now, they are 2 inches in diameter and growing. I am now diagnosed with alopecia areata and have to wait until end of November (you heard right, end of November!!) to see a dermatologist.

Naturally, as a 25 year old woman, I feel like I should be in the "prime of my youth and beauty". But alas, I have to deal with my hair falling out. I'm trying to stay positive and feel as confident as I can. I have a wonderful family and fiancé who are trying to help me deal with this as gracefully as possible.

But every time I shower so much of my hair comes out. I'm afraid to look at my hair brush after combing. I wear my hair up to hide my bald spots for now ( I have naturally thick, but straight hair), something I never used to do. I have my good days (it's just hair right?), and I've had my bad days (crying like mad woman and comparing myself to the likes of Danny DeVito).

Did anyone have a better time coping by cutting their hair short?

I think it just looks worse than it is because of how long my hair is at the moment? I used to love my hair and thought of it as one of my best assets, but now I feel like a female George Costanza.

Maybe I could rock a pixie cut, and use those hair fibres to cover it up until it gets to the point where I just shave it off or wear a wig if it comes to that?? My good friend is a hair dresser and he wants to order me a top piece. My mother, of course, wants me to keep my hair long (she cried when she first saw my balding). My fiancé just wants me to feel as beautiful as he thinks I am (and to maybe stop comparing myself to old balding male celebrities and fictional characters). A part of me dreads the thought of me cutting my hair short (it took forever to grow it this long!!) and another part just wants to cut it short and be able to have some sort of a style to my hair again.

The worst part is not knowing where this is going. Am I going to lose all my hair, or will it grow back, just to fall out again? Is it even too early to start worrying about what to do and just keep wearing my hair up and wait a little while longer?? Should I order the top piece?

I am reaching out to all the wonderful, strong women here, as this is something I've never thought I'd have to contemplate in my lifetime, as I'm sure you've felt the same. But here it is, and here I am. And here we all are.

To cut, or not to cut? That is the question?